Abstract: An apparatus for a battery cell is provided. The apparatus includes the battery cell. The battery cell includes an electrode stack including at least one pair of an anode electrode and a cathode electrode and a can including a wall encapsulating the electrode stack. The battery cell further includes a positive battery terminal connected to the electrode stack and projecting outside of the can. The battery cell further includes a negative battery terminal connected to the electrode stack. The positive battery terminal and the negative battery terminal are configured for providing electrical energy. The battery cell further includes a thermal barrier adjoining the can and the positive battery terminal. The thermal barrier seals gases within the battery cell from exiting the battery cell between the can and the positive battery terminal at an ambient temperature of at least 600° C.

Abstract: A system for an augmented-virtual reality simulator using a vehicle is provided. The system includes the vehicle including a control feature configured for selective use in an actual operation mode and in a simulation mode. In the actual operation mode, the control feature is utilized to control actual operation of the vehicle. In the simulation mode, the control feature is utilized as an input device to the augmented-virtual reality simulator. The system further includes a computerized simulation controller. The controller includes programming to monitor activation of the augmented-virtual reality simulator, command activation of the simulation mode based upon the activation of the simulator, monitor inputs to the control feature, and operate the simulator based upon the inputs to the control feature. The system further includes a headset configured for being worn by a user providing a graphical rendering to the user based upon the simulator.

Abstract: A method for determining an optimal state-of-charge (SOC) operating window for a battery for use in an electric vehicle includes learning a pattern of periodic charging of the battery for a plurality of time periods and a pattern of periodic usage of the battery for the plurality of time periods, determining a periodic energy requirement for the battery for the plurality of time periods based on the learned patterns using a statistical model, and setting a maximum SOC level and a minimum SOC level for the SOC operating window based on two or more of the periodic energy requirement, the learned patterns and a battery chemistry of the battery.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for predicting microhardness properties of a weld that defines a weld joint between at least two workpieces. The system includes a processor programmed to: receive temperature data that includes temperature values each attributed to a corresponding one of a plurality of points of the weld at corresponding times during a welding process used to produce the weld, determine peak temperature values and cooling rate values for each of the points of the weld based on the temperature values, predict a three-dimensional (3D) distribution of microhardness values of the weld based on a machine learning method that evaluates the peak temperature values and the cooling rate values, and generate display data based on the 3D distribution of microhardness values.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of operating an autonomous vehicle (AV), including: detecting an alert condition within the AV via data from an electronic sensor suite of the AV; based at least in part on detecting the alert condition, automatically initiating a call with another party; and communicatively coupling a passenger of the AV to the call, whereby the passenger can communicate with the other party via the call.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of operating an autonomous vehicle (AV), including: detecting an alert condition within the AV via data from an electronic sensor suite of the AV; based at least in part on detecting the alert condition, automatically initiating a call with another party; and communicatively coupling a passenger of the AV to the conference call, whereby the passenger can communicate with the other party via the conference call.

Abstract: A method, fuel cell system and vehicle for maintaining compression via re-compression is provided. By recovering fuel cell stacks of the fuel cell system after a pre-determined time of operation and performing re-compression on each of the recovered fuel cell stacks, power generation capacity, active area pressure and seal force is recovered to address increased contact resistance and loss of fuel cell system power generation capacity as well as decreased seal force and increased risk of reactant gas and coolant leak.

Abstract: A mobile locker includes one or more dispensing units. Each dispensing unit consists of an accessible product space where each product space also includes a temperature monitor. A passible environmental control incudes a multiple of containers located around the perimeter of each accessible product space. Further, each of the containers incorporates a phase change material (PCM) that is used to temperature condition each accessible product space.

Abstract: A battery assembly includes a first plurality of battery cells, a second plurality of battery cells, and an intermediate layer arranged in a stack. Each of the first plurality of battery cells includes a first cathode, a first cathode current collector, a first anode, a first anode current collector, and a first solid state separator, and each of the second plurality of battery cells includes a second cathode, a second cathode current collector, a second anode, a second anode current collector, and a second solid state separator. The first cathode current collectors are electrically connected in parallel to a first terminal, and the second anode current collectors are electrically connected in parallel to a second terminal. The first anode current collectors of the first plurality of battery cells are electrically connected and are electrically connected to the second cathode current collectors of the second plurality of battery cells.

Abstract: The concepts include a user support system in the form of a microphone, a visual display arranged in a vehicle cabin, and a controller. The controller includes an instruction set that is executable to receive, via the microphone, a voice-based request from a user, and employ a virtual assistant to determine a user interaction in real time and to determine a specific intent for the voice-based request, including capturing metadata. A user interaction routine determines a user interaction parameter associated with the virtual assistant based upon the voice-based request from the user. A user sentiment analysis routine determines a user satisfaction parameter associated with the virtual assistant based upon the voice-based request from the user. The controller responds in real-time to the voice-based request based upon the user satisfaction parameter and the user interaction parameter that are associated with the virtual assistant.

Abstract: A rotor grounding system for an electric machine includes a rotor including a shaft assembly configured to rotate about an axis. A housing supports the shaft assembly for rotation of the rotor. A bearing assembly has an outer circumference disposed against the shaft assembly. A discharge bar extends through at least a part of the bearing assembly. The bearing assembly has an inner circumference disposed against the discharge bar. A discharge circuit is defined between the rotor and the housing, where the discharge circuit extends through the bearing assembly and the discharge bar.

Abstract: A system for fuel cell membrane edge protection includes a fuel cell including a fuel-cell membrane-subgasket assembly. The assembly includes an anode gas diffusion electrode and a cathode gas diffusion electrode configured for facilitating an electrochemical reaction. The reaction creates water as a by-product. The assembly further includes a proton exchange membrane disposed between the electrodes and a subgasket. The subgasket includes an interior aperture portion defined by a perimeter and is connected to the anode gas diffusion electrode and the membrane about the perimeter such that an area of overlap between the subgasket, the electrode, and the membrane exists around the perimeter. The assembly further includes a carbon paper layer spanning the interior aperture portion. The layer includes patterned wettability and is configured to move the water away from the area of overlap into a center portion of the layer.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods for testing a trailer light system including a trailer connector for coupling a first voltage to a first trailer light and a second voltage to a second trailer light, a transmission state detector for determining a vehicle transmission state, and a trailer interface module for detecting an electrical connection to a trailer at the trailer connection, and for applying the first voltage to the trailer connector and the second voltage to the trailer connector in response to the detection of the electrical connection and the vehicle transmission state being in a park state.

Abstract: Methods and systems provided for determining a phase state and/or for determining a degree of subcooling in a fluid. An exemplary method for operating a refrigeration cycle includes flowing a refrigerant through a metering device and calculating a pressure differential of the refrigerant across the metering device. Further, the method includes determining whether the refrigerant is a saturated liquid based on the pressure differential. The method includes, when the refrigerant is not a saturated liquid, cooling the refrigerant upstream of the metering device.

Abstract: A method for displaying infrastructure information on a multi-focal plane augmented reality display of a vehicle includes receiving infrastructure data. The infrastructure data includes information about a location of at least one infrastructure along a route of the vehicle. The method further includes receiving vehicle-location data. The vehicle-location data includes information about a location of the vehicle. The method further includes determining a position of the vehicle relative to the location of the least one infrastructure using the infrastructure data and the vehicle-location data. The method further includes transmitting a command signal to the multi-focal plane augmented reality display to display a virtual image showing the infrastructure information of the infrastructure on the multi-focal plane augmented reality display.

Abstract: A system for real-time video streaming for a vehicle includes a camera system configured to capture videos of an environment surrounding the vehicle. The system also includes a vehicle communication system configured to communicate with a remote server and a vehicle controller in electrical communication with the camera system and the vehicle communication system. The vehicle controller is programmed to determine a system enablement state. The vehicle controller is further programmed to determine a camera system configuration in response to determining that the system enablement state is a system enabled state. The vehicle controller is further programmed to capture at least one video frame using the camera system based at least in part on the camera system configuration. The vehicle controller is further programmed to transmit the at least one video frame to the remote server using the vehicle communication system.

Abstract: A system for determining when additional information is needed by a passenger with color deficient vision within a vehicle includes a plurality of perception sensors within the vehicle adapted to collect data related to a physical identity of a primary object and to communicate the data related to the physical identity of the primary object, via a communication bus, to a data processor within the vehicle, the data processor adapted to determine that the physical identity of the primary object may be unclear to a passenger with color deficient vision based on the data related to the physical identity of the primary object, and that assistance should be provided to the passenger with color deficient vision to aid the passenger with color deficient vision in identifying the primary object.